Tie down system

ABSTRACT

A tie down system includes at least one device hook having a hook base; at least one hook opening in the hook base; a generally elongated hook shaft extending from the hook base; a curved hook finger extending from the hook shaft; a hook base extension extending from the hook base in spaced-apart relationship to the hook shaft; and a hook slot between the hook shaft and the hook base extension.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of and is a divisional applicationof U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 13/357,758, filed Feb. 2,2013 and entitled “TIE DOWN SYSTEM”, which non-provisional applicationis incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to devicesfor securing objects. More particularly, illustrative embodiments of thedisclosure relate to a tie down system which is easily adjustable insize and versatile for a variety of applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various techniques are known for securing objects on a transport vehicleor a tarp or cover on an object such as a boat, for example, such as forthe purpose of transporting the object. One of the most common methodsfor securing an object includes tying ropes to attachment points on thetransport vehicle and attaching the ropes to the object or tighteningthe ropes against the object. Bungee cords or the like may be attachedto the ropes and to attachment points on the transport vehicle toadditionally secure the object on the vehicle. In some applications,tie-down straps fitted with ratchet mechanisms adapted to tighten thestraps may be used to secure the object to the vehicle.

One of the drawbacks of using conventional ropes and bungee cords tosecure an object on a transport vehicle is that the ropes must be tiedsecurely to prevent the ropes from inadvertently becoming detachedduring transport. Therefore, proper securing of the object on thevehicle may require knowledge of how to correctly tie the knots in theropes to prevent the ropes from inadvertently becoming untied.Furthermore, the bungee cords may not be securely attached to the ropessince the ropes typically lack suitable attachment points for the bungeecords between the ends of the ropes. Moreover, the ratchet mechanisms onmany tie-down straps may be complicated and difficult to operate.

Accordingly, a tie down system which is easily adjustable in size andversatile for a variety of applications may be desirable for someapplications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to atie down system. An illustrative embodiment of the tie down systemincludes at least one device hook including a hook base, at least onehook opening in the hook base, a generally elongated hook shaftextending from the hook base, a curved hook finger extending from thehook shaft, a hook base extension extending from the hook base inspaced-apart relationship to the hook shaft and a hook slot between thehook shaft and the hook base extension.

In some embodiments, the tie down system may include a tie down devicehaving a device strap; first and second device hooks terminatingrespective ends of the device strap; and at least one intermediate straploop extending from one side of the device strap between the first andsecond device hooks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by wayof example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an illustrative tie down device embodiment of atie down system;

FIG. 2 is a side view of an exemplary device hook of the tie down deviceembodiment of the tie down system illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the exemplary device hook illustrated inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view, partially in section, of an exemplaryintermediate strap loop of the tie down device embodiment of the tiedown system;

FIG. 5 is a side view, partially in section, of a boat supported on aboat trailer and a boat cover (each illustrated in phantom) on the boat,with the exemplary tie down device embodiment of the tie down systemsecuring the boat cover on the boat;

FIG. 6 is a side view, partially in section, of the exemplary tie downdevice embodiment deployed in a shortened configuration in exemplaryapplication of the tie down system;

FIG. 7 is a front view of an exemplary rope lock element of anillustrative embodiment of the tie down system;

FIG. 8 is a side view, partially in section, of an exemplary tie downsystem utilizing a device hook and a rope lock in securing a boat coveron a boat according to exemplary application of the tie down system;

FIG. 9 is a front view of an alternative exemplary rope lock element ofan illustrative embodiment of the tie down system;

FIG. 10 is a side view, partially in section, of an exemplary tie downsystem utilizing a device hook and a rope lock illustrated in FIG. 9 insecuring a boat cover on a boat according to exemplary application ofthe tie down system; and

FIG. 11 is a front view of the exemplary rope lock illustrated in FIG.9, more particularly illustrating an alternative threading configurationof a tie down strap through the strap openings of the rope lock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and isnot intended to limit the described embodiments or the application anduses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary”or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, orillustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or“illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other implementations. All of the implementationsdescribed below are exemplary implementations provided to enable personsskilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended tolimit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is nointention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented inthe preceding technical field, background, brief summary or thefollowing detailed description. Relative terms herein, such as “upper”,“lower”, “front” and “rear”, are used with reference to relativepositions of various elements with respect to each other in exemplaryapplication of the fish scaling assembly and are not intended to be usedin a limiting sense.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, an illustrativeembodiment of a tie down system, hereinafter system, is generallyindicated by reference numeral 1. The system 1 may include a tie downdevice 2. The tie down device 2 may include an elongated, flexibledevice strap 20. In some embodiments, the device strap 20 may includebraided or non-braided nylon, polypropylene and/or other suitable tough,durable and non-elastic material. In other embodiments, the device strap20 may include a stretchable material such as a bungee cord, for exampleand without limitation.

A first device hook 3 and a second device hook 3 a terminate oppositeends of the device strap 20. The first device hook 3 and the seconddevice hook 3 a may each include a hook base 4. The hook base 4 of eachof the first device hook 3 and the second device hook 3 a may beattached to the device strap 20 in a manner which will be hereinafterdescribed. A primary hook opening 5 and a secondary hook opening 6 mayextend through the hook base 4 in generally adjacent relationship toeach other. A hook base extension 7 may extend from the hook base 4.

An elongated hook shaft 10 extends from the hook base 4. A curved hookfinger 11 extends from the hook shaft 10. The hook finger 11 terminatesin a hook terminus 12 which may be tapered, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Ahook opening 15 is formed by the hook shaft 10, the hook finger 11 andthe hook terminus 12. The hook shaft 10 may be disposed in adjacent andspaced-apart relationship to the hook base extension 7. A hook slot 14may be formed between the hook base extension 7 and the hook shaft 10.In some embodiments, the hook base 4, the hook base extension 7, thehook shaft 10, the hook finger 11 and the hook terminus 12 may be boundby a flat or planar and continuous hook perimeter surface 18. The firstdevice hook 3 and the second device hook 3 a may each be metal, plastic,carbon fiber composite and/or other material which is consistent withthe functional requirements of the tie down device 2.

The first device hook 3 and the second device hook 3 a may be attachedto the device strap 20 using any suitable attachment technique which isknown by those skilled in the art and suitable for the purpose. In someembodiments, opposite ends of the device strap 20 may terminate in afirst strap end loop 21 and a second strap end loop 22, respectively.Each of the first strap end loop 21 and the second strap end loop 22 maybe secured using a loop stay 23. The first strap end loop 21 may extendthrough the primary hook opening 5 in the hook base 4 of the firstdevice hook 3. The second strap end loop 22 may extend through theprimary hook opening 5 in the hook base 4 of the second device hook 3 a.

At least one intermediate strap loop 26 extends from the device strap 20between the first strap end loop 21 and the second strap end loop 22. Insome embodiments, multiple intermediate strap loops 26 may extend fromthe device strap 20 at spaced-apart intervals. For example and withoutlimitation, in some embodiments, the intermediate strap loops 26 may beprovided on the device strap 20 at spaced-apart intervals of about 12inches with respect to each other. A primary strap segment 20 a mayextend between the first device hook 3 and the next succeedingintermediate strap loop 26 and between the second device hook 3 and thenext succeeding intermediate strap loop 26, respectively, on the devicestrap 20. A secondary strap segment 20 b may extend between each pair ofadjacent intermediate strap loops 26. As illustrated in FIG. 4, eachintermediate strap loop 20 may have a longitudinal axis 29 which isoriented in generally perpendicular relationship to a longitudinal axis28 of the device strap 20.

Each intermediate strap loop 26 may be attached to the device strap 20according to any suitable attachment technique which is known by thoseskilled in the art and which is consistent with the functionalrequirements of the tie down device 2. For example and withoutlimitation, as illustrated in FIG. 4, in some embodiments, eachintermediate strap loop 26 may be formed as a looped extension of thedevice strap 20 and secured using a loop stay 27 or the like. In otherembodiments, the device strap 20 and the intermediate strap loops 26 maybe formed as separate components. Each intermediate strap loop 26 may beattached to the device strap 20 via sewing, mechanical fasteners and/orother suitable attachment technique.

Referring next to FIG. 5 of the drawings, in exemplary application, thetie down device 2 of the tie down system 1 may be used to secure a boatcover 36 on a boat 34 which may be supported by a boat trailer 35. Theboat cover 36 may be standard or conventional and may include multipleboat cover straps 37 which extend from the perimeter of the boat cover36 in spaced-apart relationship to each other. Accordingly, the firstdevice hook 3 of the tie down device 2 may be attached to a first boatcover strap 37 on the boat cover 36 by extending the hook finger 11 ofthe first device hook 3 through the first boat cover strap 37. Thedevice strap 20 may be extended downwardly around the lower surface ofthe boat trailer 35 and then pulled upwardly and the second device hook3 a attached to a second boat cover strap 37 on the boat cover 36.Additional tie down devices 2 may be used to secure the remaining pairsof boat cover straps 37 to the boat trailer 35 in a similar manneraround the perimeter of the boat cover 36. Therefore, the tie downdevices 2 retain the boat cover 36 on the boat 34 in a secure manner forcovered storage and/or transport of the boat 34 on the trailer 35. Thetie down devices 1 may be removed from the boat cover 36 by disengagingthe first device hook 3 and the second device hook 3 a of each tie downdevice 1 from the respective boat cover straps 37.

In some applications, a tie down strap 30 may be used to attach eachpair of adjacent tie down devices 2 to each other. Accordingly, a firstend (not illustrated) of the tie down strap 30 may be threaded throughthe secondary hook opening 6 in each of the first device hook 3 and thesecond device hook 3 a and tied or otherwise secured to prevent the tiedown strap 30 from pulling through the secondary hook opening 6. Thefree second end (not illustrated) of the tie down strap 30 may beextended beneath the boat trailer 35 and likewise threaded through andsecured in the secondary hook opening 6 in the first device hook 3 orthe second device hook 3 a of the adjacent tie down device 2.

Referring next to FIG. 6 of the drawings, it will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that the length of the device strap 20 can beselectively shortened as deemed necessary depending on the particularapplication of the tie down device 2. For example, in some applicationsit may be necessary or desirable to reduce the length of the devicestrap 20 of one or more of the tie down devices 2 in order to achieve asecure and snug fit of the boat cover 36 on the boat 34. Accordingly,the first device hook 3 and the second device hook 3 a of the tie downdevice 2 may initially be attached to the respective boat cover straps37 on the boat cover 36 as was heretofore described with respect to FIG.5, with the device strap 20 extending beneath the boat trailer 35. Oneof the intermediate strap loops 26 is then pulled upwardly and insertedin the hook slot 14 between the hook base extension 7 and the hook shaft10 of the first device hook 3 and/or the second device hook 3 a. Thisaction shortens and tensions the device strap 20 and slackens theprimary strap segment 20 a between the first strap end loop 21 and thenext succeeding intermediate strap loop 26 along the device strap 20.

Referring next to FIG. 7 of the drawings, in some embodiments, the tiedown system 1 may include a strap lock 40. The strap lock 40 may begenerally triangular with three rope lock sides 41 and three rope lockcorners 42. First, second and third strap openings 43 a-43 c,respectively, may extend through the strap lock 40 generally at therespective rope lock corners 42. The strap lock 40 may be metal,plastic, carbon fiber composite and/or other material which isconsistent with the functional requirements of the tie down device 1.

Referring next to FIG. 8 of the drawings, exemplary application of adevice hook 3 with a strap lock 40 in securing a boat cover 36 (FIG. 5)on a boat 34 in exemplary application of a tie down system 1 a is shown.A first device hook 3 may be attached to a tie down strap 37 on the boatcover 36. A first end 30 a of a first tie down strap 30 may initially bethreaded through the first strap opening 43 a in the strap lock 40 andthen through the secondary hook opening 6 and the primary hook opening5, respectively, in the hook base 4 of the first device hook 3. Thesecond end (not illustrated) of the first tie down strap 30 may belikewise attached to a second device hook 3 a (not illustrated in FIG.8) which engages a boat cover strap 37 on the boat cover 36. A secondtie down strap 32 may be threaded through the second strap opening 43 band the third strap opening 43 c, respectively, in the strap lock 40. Asecond pair of the first device hook 3 and the second device hook 3 a(not illustrated in FIG. 8) may be attached to the respective ends ofthe second tie down strap 32. The first device hook 3 and the seconddevice hook 3 a on the second tie down strap 32 may be engaged with theboat trailer 35 to tension the first tie down strap 30 and the secondtie down strap 32 and anchor or secure the boat cover 36 on the boat 34.

Referring next to FIGS. 9-11 of the drawings, an alternative exemplarystrap lock 50 includes a pair of curved strap lock sides 51 and a pairof curved strap lock ends 52 terminating and extending between the straplock sides 51. First, second, third and fourth strap lock openings 53a-53 d, respectively, may extend through the strap lock 50 at therespective strap lock sides 51 and strap lock ends 52. As illustrated inFIG. 10, exemplary application of the strap lock 50 may be as washeretofore described with respect to the strap lock 40 in FIG. 8.Accordingly, the first end 30 a of a first tie down strap 30 mayinitially be threaded through the first strap opening 53 a in the straplock 50 and then through the secondary hook opening 6 and the primaryhook opening 5, respectively, in the hook base 4 of the first devicehook 3. The second end (not illustrated) of the first tie down strap 30may be likewise attached to a second device hook 3 a (not illustrated inFIG. 10) which engages a boat cover strap 37 on the boat cover 36. Asecond tie down strap 32 may be threaded through the second strapopening 53 b and the third strap opening 53 c, respectively, in thestrap lock 50. A second pair of the first device hook 3 and the seconddevice hook 3 a (not illustrated in FIG. 10) may be attached to therespective ends of the second tie down strap 32. The first device hook 3and the second device hook 3 a on the second tie down strap 32 may beengaged with the boat trailer 35 to tension the first tie down strap 30and the second tie down strap 32 and anchor or secure the boat cover 36on the boat 34. An alternative threading configuration of a tie downstrap 30 through the strap openings 53 a-53 d of the rope lock 50 isshown in FIG. 11.

While illustrative embodiments of the disclosure have been describedabove, it will be recognized and understood that various modificationscan be made in the disclosure and the appended claims are intended tocover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scopeof the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tie down system, comprising: a first devicehook; a second device hook; each device hook including: a hook base; atleast one primary hook opening in the hook base, wherein the at leastone primary hook opening comprises a primary hook opening and asecondary hook opening and a tie down strap extends through thesecondary hook opening, the hook slot and the primary hook opening,respectively; a generally elongated hook shaft extending from the hookbase; a curved hook finger extending from the hook shaft; a hook openingformed by the hook shaft and the hook finger; a hook base extensionextending from the hook base in generally adjacent, spaced-apartrelationship to the hook shaft; and a hook slot of fixed size or volumebetween the hook shaft and the hook base extension, the hook slot on aside of the hook shaft opposite the hook opening; and the tie down strapterminating at a first strap end loop and a second strap end loop, thefirst strap end loop disposed to extend through the at least one primaryhook opening in the hook base of the first device hook, the second strapend loop disposed to extend through the at least one primary hookopening in the hook base of the second device hook; and a strap lockdefined by a pair of curved strap lock sides and a pair of curved straplock ends, the strap lock ends terminating and extending between thestrap lock sides; a first strap lock opening extending through the straplock at a first one of the pair of strap lock ends; a second strap lockopening extending through the strap lock at a first one of the pair ofstrap lock sides; a third strap lock opening extending through the straplock at a second one of the pair of strap lock sides; a fourth straplock opening extending through the strap lock at a second one of thepair of strap lock ends, the tie down strap disposed to extend throughat least one of the first strap lock opening, the second strap lockopening, the third strap lock opening and the fourth strap lock openingof the strap lock.
 2. The tie down system of claim 1, wherein the straplock is generally oval shaped.
 3. The tie down system of claim 1,wherein the first tie down strap extends through the first strap lockopening.
 4. The tie down system of claim 1, further comprising a secondtie down strap extending through the second strap lock opening and thethird strap lock opening.
 5. The tie down system of claim 4, wherein thefirst end of the first tie down strap is configured to join with a boatcover.
 6. The tie down system of claim 5, wherein the second end of thefirst tie down strap is configured to join with a boat trailer.
 7. Thetie down system of claim 6, wherein the first tie down strap and thesecond tie down strap are generally elongated and flexible.
 8. A tiedown system, comprising: a first device hook; a second device hook; eachdevice hook including: a hook base; at least one primary hook opening inthe hook base, wherein the at least one primary hook opening comprises aprimary hook opening and a secondary hook opening and the tie down strapextends through the secondary hook opening, the hook slot and theprimary hook opening, respectively; a generally elongated hook shaftextending from the hook base; a curved hook finger extending from thehook shaft; a hook opening formed by the hook shaft and the hook finger;a hook base extension extending from the hook base in generallyadjacent, spaced-apart relationship to the hook shaft; and a hook slotof fixed size or volume between the hook shaft and the hook baseextension, the hook slot on a side of the hook shaft opposite the hookopening; and a tie down strap, the tie down strap terminating at a firststrap end loop and a second strap end loop; and a generally oval shapedstrap lock defined by a pair of curved strap lock sides and a pair ofcurved strap lock ends terminating and extending between the strap locksides; a first strap lock opening extending through the strap lock at afirst one of the pair of strap lock ends; a second strap lock openingextending through the strap lock at a first one of the pair of straplock sides; a third strap lock opening extending through the strap lockat a second one of the pair of strap lock sides; a fourth strap lockopening extending through the strap lock at a second one of the pair ofstrap lock ends; a first tie down strap having a first strap end loopand a second strap end loop, the first strap end loop of the first tiedown strap configured to be threaded through the first strap opening inthe strap lock and disposed to extend through the at least one primaryhook opening in the hook base of the first device hook; and a second tiedown strap, the second tie down strap configured to be threaded throughthe second strap opening and the third strap opening, respectively, inthe strap lock and disposed to extend through the at least one primaryhook opening in the hook base of the second device hook.
 9. The tie downsystem of claim 8, wherein the first end of the first tie down strap isconfigured to join with a boat cover.
 10. The tie down system of claim8, wherein the second end of the first tie down strap is configured tojoin with a boat trailer.
 11. The tie down system of claim 8, whereinthe first tie down strap and the second tie down strap are generallyelongated and flexible.